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In this article, we will cover one of the most popular oscillators – the relative strength index (RSI). You have probably read some general articles on the RSI; however, in this post, I will present four trading strategies you can use when trading.

Before we dive into the strategies, let’s first ground ourselves on the RSI indicator and provide you with a few techniques not widely known.

Relative Strength Index Definition

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is one of the most popular indicators in the market.

The RSI is a basic measure of how well a stock is performing against itself by comparing the strength of the up days versus the down days. This number is computed and has a range between 0 and 100. A reading above 70 is considered bullish, while a reading below 30 is an indication of bearishness.

Relative Strength Index Formula

The RSI was developed by J.Welles Wilder and detailed in his book New Concepts in Technical Trading Systems in June of 1978. For all you hardcore technicians, below is the relative strength index formula example.

The default setting for the RSI is 14 days, so you would calculate the relative strength index formula as follows:

Now that we know the relative strength index formula [1] let’s analyze how to use this powerful indicator.

Most traders use the relative strength index simply by buying a stock when the indicator hits 30 and selling when it hits 70. If you remember anything from this article, remember that if you buy and sell based on this strategy “YOU WILL LOSE MONEY”. The market does not reward anyone for trading the obvious. Now that doesn’t mean that simple method don’t work, but simple methods that everyone else is following have low odds.

RSI Trade Signals

The RSI provides several signals to traders. In this next section let’s explore the various trade setups using the indicator.

John theorizes throughout the book that these levels are the true numbers that measure bull and bear trends and not the standard extreme readings.

RSI Defining Trend

It amazes me that more people do not talk about this aspect of the RSI.

Again, the RSI is not just about buy and sell signals. What about the fact the indicator is about “strength” and what better use than to measure the strength of the trend.

In the above chart example, the RSI shifted from a weak position to over 66.66. From this point, the RSI stayed above the 33.33 level for days and would have kept you long in the market for the entire run.

Defining Downtrend

As you can see, the RSI can also define downtrends as well. You just want to make sure the security does not cross 66.66.

Now, should you make buy or sell signals based on crosses of 33.33 and 66.66? Not too fast, there is more to the RSI indicator which we will now dive into.

RSI Support and Resistance

Did you know the RSI can display the actual support and resistance levels in the market? These support and resistance lines can come in the form of horizontal zones or as we will illustrate shortly, sloping trendlines.

RSI Breakout

You may not know this, but you can apply trend lines to indicators in the same manner as price charts. In the above chart, Stamps.com was able to jump significant resistance on the RSI indicator and the price chart.

This breakout resulted in a nice run-up of over 7%.

Let’s take a look at another example where the RSI was able to call a top. It’s not what you are thinking, in that a reading of 90 is a guarantee for a selloff.

RSI Trend Breakdown

In this example, the RSI had a breakdown and backtest of the trendline before the break in price. While the stock continued to make higher highs, the RSI was starting to slump.

The challenging part of this method is identifying when a trendline break in the RSI will lead to a major shift in price. As expected you will have several false signals before the big move.

There is no such thing as easy money in the market. It only becomes easy after you have become a master of your craft.

RSI Divergence with Price

This is an oldie but goodie and is still applicable to the RSI indicator. Building upon the example from the last section, identify times where price is making new highs, but the RSI is unable to top itself.

RSI Divergence

This is a clear example where the RSI is starting to roll as the price inches higher.

RSI Double Bottom Signal

The first price bottom is made on heavy volume, which occurs after the security has been in a strong uptrend for some period. This is the reason as mentioned below that the RSI has been above 30 for a considerable amount of time. After the first price sell-off, which also results in a breach of 30 on the RSI, the stock will have a snapback rally.

This rally is short lived and is then followed by another snap back reaction which breaks the low of the first bottom.

This second low is where stops are run from the first reaction low. Shortly after breaking the low by a few ticks, the security begins to rally sharply. This second low not only forms a double bottom on the price chart but the relative strength index as well.

The reason this second rally has legs is for (1) the weak longs were stopped out of their position on the second reaction, and (2) the new shorts are being squeezed out of their position. The combination of these two forces produces sharp rallies in a very short time frame.

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To illustrate this point around double bottoms, have a look at the below chart of Bitcoin futures.

Double Bottom

The tricky part about finding these double bottoms is after the formation completes, the security may be much higher.

I can’t tell you how many times I would purchase the second low before the rally up, only to have the security head lower.

You are going to need tight stops to avoid ending up on the wrong side of the trade.

Exercise Caution

As I mentioned earlier, it is easy to see these setups and assume they will all work. What people do not tell you is that for every one of these charts that play out nicely, there are countless others that fail.

It only takes one trader with enough capital and conviction to make mincemeat out of your nice charts and trendlines.

RSI and the Broad Market

If you want to assess the broad market, I have been reviewing an interesting approach of applying the RSI to the McClellan Oscillator.

This won’t help you much day trading, as this sort of weakness in the broad market only occurs a few times a year.

However, if you are in the middle of a day trade, you can prepare yourself for the tidal wave that’s coming.

It’s amazing how applying a strength measurement to a broad market indicator can reveal when weakness hits a tipping point.

In addition, I read an interesting post that analyzed the return of the broad market since 1950 after the RSI hit extreme readings of 30 and 70.

In the post[3], senior quantitative analyst Rocky White makes the case that over the short-term after a reading below 30, the bears are still in control. However, if you look a little further to the intermediate-term, the bulls will surface and a long move is in play.

Trading Strategies Using the RSI Indicator

Although the RSI is an effective tool, it is always better to combine the RSI with other technical indicators to validate trading decisions. The strategies we will cover in the next section of this article will show you how to reduce the number of false signals so prevalent in the market.

#1 – RSI + MACD

In this trading strategy, we will combine the RSI indicator with the very popular MACD. We will enter the market whenever we receive an overbought or oversold signal from the RSI supported by the MACD. We will close our position if either indicator provides an exit signal.

This is the 10-minute chart of IBM. In this relative strength index example, the green circles show the moments where we receive entry signals from both indicators and the red circles denote our exit points.

A bit more than an hour after the morning open, we notice the relative strength index leaving an oversold condition, which is a clear buy signal. The next period, we see the MACD perform a bullish crossover – our second signal.

Since we have two matching signals from the indicators, we go long with IBM. We appear to be at the beginning of a steady bullish trend. Five hours later, we see the RSI entering oversold territory just for a moment. Since our strategy only needs one sell signal, we close the trade based on the RSI oversold reading.

This position generated $2.08 profit per share for approximately 6 hours of work.

#2 – RSI + MA Cross

In this trading strategy, we will match the RSI with the moving average cross indicator. For the moving averages, we will use the 4-period and 13-period MAs.

We will buy or sell the stock when we match an RSI overbought or oversold signal with a supportive crossover of the moving averages. We will hold the position until we get the opposite signal from one of the two indicators or divergence on the chart.

Also, I want to clarify something about the MA cross exit signals. A regular crossover from the moving average is not enough to exit a trade. I recommend waiting for a candle to close beyond both lines of the moving average cross before exiting the market. To illustrate this trading strategy, please have a look at the chart below:

This is the 15-minute chart of McDonald’s.

RSI enters the oversold area with the bearish gap the morning of Aug 12. Two hours later, the RSI line exits the oversold territory generating a buy signal. An hour and a half later, the MA has a bullish cross, giving us a second long signal. We buy McDonald’s as a result of two matching signals between the RSI and the MA Cross. McDonald’s then enters a strong bullish trend, and 4 hours later, the RSI enters the overbought zone.

At the end of the trading day, we spot a bearish divergence between the RSI and McDonald’s price. Furthermore, this happens in the overbought area of the RSI. This is a very strong exit signal, and we immediately close our long trade.

This is a clear example of how we can attain an extra signal from the RSI by using divergence as an exit signal. This long position with MCD made us a profit of $2.05 per share.

#3 – RSI + RVI

Now I will show you how to combine the relative strength index with the relative vigor index. In this setup, I will enter the market only when I have matching signals from both indicators. I will hold the position until I get an opposite signal from one of the tools – pretty straightforward.

This is the 15-minute chart of Facebook. In this example, we take two positions in Facebook.

First, we get an overbought signal from the RSI. Then the RSI line breaks to the downside, giving us the first short signal. Two periods later, the RVI lines have a bearish cross. This is the second bearish signal we need and we short Facebook, at which point the stock begins to drop.

After a slight counter move, the RVI lines have a bullish cross, which is highlighted in the second red circle and we close our short position. This trade generated a profit of 77 cents per share for a little over 2 hours of work.

Facebook then starts a new bearish move slightly after 2 pm on the 21st. Unfortunately, the two indicators are not saying the same thing, so we stay out of the market.

Later the RSI enters the oversold territory. A few periods later, the RSI generates a bullish signal.

After two periods, the RVI lines also have a bullish cross, which is our second signal and we take a long position in Facebook. Just an hour later, the price starts to trend upwards. Notice that during the price increase, the RVI lines attempt a bearish crossover, which is represented with the two blue dots.

Fortunately, these attempts are unsuccessful, and we stay with our long trade. Later the RVI finally has a bearish cross, and we close our trade. This long position with FB accumulated $2.01 per share for 4 hours.

In total, the RSI + RVI strategy on Facebook generated $2.78 per share.

#4 – RSI + Price Action Trading

Here I will use the RSI overbought and oversold signal in combination with any price action indication, such as candlesticks, chart patterns, trend lines, channels, etc.

To enter a trade, I will need an RSI signal plus a price action signal – candle pattern, chart pattern or breakout. I will hold every trade until I get a contrary RSI signal or price movement that the move is over.

This is the 30-minute chart of Bank of America.

The chart image starts with the RSI in overbought territory. After an uptrend, the BAC chart draws the famous three inside down candle pattern, which has a strong bearish potential. With the confirmation of the pattern, we see the RSI also breaking down through the overbought area.

We match two bearish signals, and we short BAC. The price starts a slight increase afterward. This puts us into a situation, where we wonder if we should close the trade or not. Fortunately, we spot a hanging man candle, which has a bearish context.

We hold our trade and the price drops again. Look at the three blue dots on the image. These simple dots are enough to build our downtrend line. After we entered the market on an RSI signal and a candle pattern, we now have an established bearish trend to follow!

The trend resists the price (yellow circle), and we see another drop in our favor. After this decrease, BAC breaks the bearish trend, which gives us an exit signal. We close our position with BAC, and we collect our profit. This trade made us 20 cents per share.

Which RSI Trading Strategy?

If you are new to trading, combining the RSI with another indicator like volume or moving averages is likely a great start. Pairing with the indicator will give you a set value to make a decision and removes a lot of the gray areas associated with trading.

Once you progress in your trading career, you will want to look to methods using price action that are more subjective but being able to apply techniques specific to the security you are trading will increase your winning percentages over time.

But again, this level of trading takes a ton of practice over an extended period.

Examples of where the Relative Strength Indicator Fails

I think it’s important to highlight where indicators can fail you as a trader and the RSI is no different.

At best you may achieve a 60% win rate with any strategy, including one with the RSI.

So, I’m going to layout the x likely ways the RSI will burn you when trading.

#1 – The Stock Keeps Trending

The textbook picture of an oversold or overbought RSI reading will lead to a perfect turning point in the stock. This is what you will see on many sites and even earlier in this very post.

However, we all know things rarely go as planned in the market.

False Sell Signals

As you see, there were multiple times that BFR gave oversold signals using the relative strength indicator. The stock continued higher for over three hours.

So how do you avoid such an unfortunate event if you are going short in the market?

Simple, you have to include a stop loss in your trade. Get ready, because this will be a common theme as we continue to dissect how the RSI can fail you.

#2 – Divergences Do Not Always Lead to Meltdowns

Divergence – False Signals

The tricky thing about divergences is that the reading on the RSI is set by price action for that respective swing.

Well, there are times where the price action itself changes from one of impulse to a slow grind.

To this point, look at the above chart and notice how after the divergence takes place the stock pulls back to the original breakout point. But then something happens, the stock begins to grind higher in a more methodical fashion.

If you are long the market, it doesn’t mean you should panic and sell if the high is broken with a lower RSI reading. What it means is that you should take a breath and observe how the stock behaves.

If the stock beings to demonstrate trouble at the divergence zone, look to tighten your stop or close the position.

However, if the stock blasts through a prior resistance level with a weaker RSI reading, who are you to stop the party?

#3 – Tight Ranges

Extreme Readings

In some RSI examples, you will see these neat scenarios where the indicator bounces from below 30 to back above 70.

Well, all you have to do is buy the low reading and sell the high reading and watch your account balance increase – wrong!

There are times when the ranges are so tight, you might get one extreme reading, but it might not have the volatility to bounce to the other extremity.

So, like in the above example, you may buy the low RSI reading but have to settle for a high reading in the 50s or 60s to close the position.

Put Your New Knowledge to the Test

Al Hill is one of the co-founders of Tradingsim. He has over 18 years of day trading experience in both the U.S. and Nikkei markets. On a daily basis Al applies his deep skills in systems integration and design strategy to develop features to help retail traders become profitable. When Al is not working on Tradingsim, he can be found spending time with family and friends.

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John v Dijk

You define a downtrend when the RSI breaks below 33.33 Instead of going short, i would go long because the trend is oversold. So when i look above at the chart of VLRS, assuming its a day chart, i see between 17 en 18 2 breaks below 33,33 and 2 times the stock went up. So the question is: do you go long when the RSI breaks 66,66 or do you go short ?